Wordsmiths see inauguration's poetic possibilities

In this April 27, 2006, file photo, Pulitzer Prize winning poet Philip Levine is shown at the San Joaquin River Center in Fresno, Calif., where he's recited many of his poems. John F. Kennedy was the first American president to include a poet in his inauguration. Now, poets and poetry lovers around the country are hoping that Barack Obama, known for his own skillful use of language, will be the third. There's buzz about all sorts of names. Among them: Philip Levine, a Midwesterner whose writing are attuned to the working class; Robert Pinsky, former poet laureate who created the Favorite Poem Project; Yusef Komunyakaa, whose work is heavily influenced by jazz; U.S. Poet Laureate Kay Ryan. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)
— AP

In this April 27, 2006, file photo, Pulitzer Prize winning poet Philip Levine is shown at the San Joaquin River Center in Fresno, Calif., where he's recited many of his poems. John F. Kennedy was the first American president to include a poet in his inauguration. Now, poets and poetry lovers around the country are hoping that Barack Obama, known for his own skillful use of language, will be the third. There's buzz about all sorts of names. Among them: Philip Levine, a Midwesterner whose writing are attuned to the working class; Robert Pinsky, former poet laureate who created the Favorite Poem Project; Yusef Komunyakaa, whose work is heavily influenced by jazz; U.S. Poet Laureate Kay Ryan. (AP Photo/Gary Kazanjian)
/ AP

WASHINGTON 
John F. Kennedy was the first American president to include a poet in his inauguration, and Bill Clinton was only the second.

Now, poets and poetry lovers around the country are hoping that Barack Obama, known for his own skillful use of language, will be the third.

"Speculation is rife in the poetry world," says Tree Swenson, executive director of the Academy of American Poets. "Given that he is so eloquent himself and so tuned to words, the assumption is that, of course, he will have a poet at the inauguration."

That kind of thinking leads to a whole new round of speculation about who might be the chosen poet. Time is running out, after all.

There's buzz about all sorts of names. Among them: Philip Levine, a Midwesterner whose writings are attuned to the working class; Robert Pinsky, former poet laureate who created the Favorite Poem Project; Yusef Komunyakaa, whose work is heavily influenced by jazz; U.S. Poet Laureate Kay Ryan.

No matter who might be selected, "It would be a wonderful gesture, and a reminder to our country that the arts are present in everyone's daily lives, whether they realize it or not," said Gary Soto, an award-winning poet and novelist from northern California.

No decision has been made about whether to include a poet in the swearing-in, according to inaugural planners. But Presidential Inaugural Committee spokeswoman Linda Douglass said planners are exploring "all kinds of creative ideas."

"This is going to be one that will be punctuated by artistry of all sorts," she said.

There's no shortage of poets out there who may think they're up to the task.

An "inaugural ode" contest sponsored by the Best American Poetry series Web site drew about 40 entries. Series editor David Lehman, himself a poet, said he came away "impressed by how serious people were" about the challenge. The entries "confirmed my idea that poetry is much more popular in the United States than people realize," he said.

Only three poets have participated in presidential inaugurals:

–Eighty-six-year-old Robert Frost wrote a poem for Kennedy's inaugural in 1961 but never read it. Frost couldn't make out the words of the poem in the sun's glare, so instead he recited from memory "The Gift Outright," which he'd written in 1942.

–Clinton chose Maya Angelou to write a poem for his first inaugural in 1993, and she recited "On the Pulse of Morning." Four years later, the president selected fellow Arkansan Miller Williams, who read "Of History and Hope" for Clinton's second inaugural.

Jimmy Carter didn't have a poet at his swearing-in, but James Dickey read "The Strength of Fields" at a gala the day before the 1977 inauguration.

Kennedy spoke – poetically – about the transformative power of poets.

"When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations," Kennedy said in 1963. "When power narrows the areas of man's concerns, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of his existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses."